Playground apparatus



Aug. 9, A. B. HORNE PLAYGROUND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1.

I VENTOR a v3.

A TTORNEYS 1938. A, B. HORNE 2,126,636

PLAYGROUND APPARATUS FiIGd'OGt. 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J Wu. j F

12 12 r 6 11 a? J;- -z;-| z;-

10 E I I F I G 2 ATTORNEKS 1938- A. B. HQRNE 2,126,636

PLAYGROUND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Allg- 1938. A. B HORNE 2,126,636

PLAYGROUND APPARATUS Filed. Odt. 4, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4'

INVENTOR BY a. 55 4, Wag? ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OF'FiCE Application ()ctober 4,

ll Claim.

This invention relates to playground apparatus and more particularly to combined. exercising and climbing structures.

Various types of climbing structures for playground use have heretofore been proposed. A

common type comprises a reticulated rectangular framework extending in three dimensions and containing a number of outline cells or cubicles. The size of these cells is selected to meet the requirements of children of the average age or size that would use the apparatus, equipment of this type being usually intended for younger children.

I find, however, that interest in climbing and similar acrobatic activities is not confined to younger children, but extends also to boys and girls of high school age. With a climbing structure composed of outline cells or cubes such as above referred to, however, the activities of older and larger children are too much restricted and the freedom of action which they desire is not provided for.

It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to devise playground apparatus of this gen- 25 eral character which will afiord greater freedom of movement for older and larger children, and which will at the same time permit them to perform various gymnastic exercises, and to use both hands and feet in climbing.

Another object is to construct apparatus of this character in which provision is made for children of different sizes andages, so that each may enjoy the use of certain portions of the apparatus particularly adapted for his individual size.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 may be said to be an end elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale, looking into the side of the apparatus opposite to that shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that my improved apparatus, like those hitherto proposed, comprises a plurality of series of vertical posts, the posts of one series being designated I, l l etc., and the posts of successive series being designated as 2, 2 2 etc. and 3, 3' 3 etc. These several series of posts are disposed in vertical planes and all of such planes are parallel with each other.

1933, Serial No. 692,206

Supported by each series of posts is a series of spaced horizontally extending bars 8, these bars being parallel with each other and lying in the plane of the series of posts by which they are supported.

The upper ends of the corresponding posts of all of the series are conected by a series of cross bars 9, 9 9 etc., that is to say,posts l, 2, 3, etc. are connected by cross bar 9, posts l 2 3 etc. are conncted by cross bar 9 and so forth.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, an entire series of posts i, l l etc. together with the horizontal bars 8 carried thereby, forming a checker-board structure, constitutes what I shall designate as a multiple ladder structure or window ladder. It will thus be seen, particularly by reference to Fig. 4, that my improved apparatus comprises in efiect a plurality of vertically disposed spaced window ladders having between them passageways or alleys which are wholly free and unobstructed.

It will also be seen that the cross bars 9, 9*, etc. constitute in efiect, as shown in Fig. 3, a horizontal ladder structure which extends along and over each of these alleys.

Thus a person entering one of these alleys may climb vertically upward by stepping upon the horizontal bars 8 on opposite sides of the alley and after having climbed high enough to reach the cross bars 9 with his hands, he may swing from such bars and may travel horizontally along them by grasping one afteranother successively. At the same time, he is free to swing through at any point, and even further at the end of the alley.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my improved structure presents possibilities for freedom of action and diversity of gymnastic feats far superior to those provided by the old restricted cell type of apparatus.

As shown in the drawings, at one side of my improved structure, namely, that illustrated in Fig. 4, the ends of the alleys between the window ladders are left entirely open. The opposite ends may of course also be left open, if desired, but in some cases, I prefer to arrange at such opposite end as shown in Fig. 2, a number of individual cross bars extending between adjacent pairs of posts and arranged at different heights from the ground, in order to accommodate children of difierent sizes. Thus, between the posts I and 2 and the posts (i and I I provide a pair of cross bars It which are relatively low to the ground and are adapted for the use of the smallest children. Between other pairs of posts, as

for example the posts 2 and. 3 and the posts 5 and 6, I provide another pair of cross bars ll, arranged at a greater distance from the ground. And between other posts, such, for example, as the posts 3, 4 and 5 I arrange a third pair of cross bars l2 which are still higher from the ground. These individual cross bars of different heights provide apparatus by means of which children of difierent sizes may conveniently engage in turning or chinning exercises, and it will be seen that in at least two instances, these bars have as much space above them as below them, so that complete freedom of movement is permitted.

In order to render the structure still more attractive, I may, if desired, extend some of the middle posts, such for example, as 3 and 5, upwardly above the uppermost bars 8 and cross bars 9, and connect these extended posts by shorter horizontal bars 8' and 9, thus forming a kind of central tower or parapet into which the children may climb.

What I claim is:

A playground structure comprising a plurality of series of posts, each series lying in a vertical plane and all such planes being parallel, a series of vertically spaced horizontal bars carried by each series of posts and lying in the plane there of, and horizontal cross bars connecting the upper ends of the corresponding posts of each series and extending at right angles to the planes thereof, the spaces between adjacent series of posts being otherwise free and unobstructed, and additional cross bars connecting individual pairs of end posts of adjacent series of posts, said last mentioned cross bars being disposed at progressively varying heights, whereby they may be conveniently used by children of different sizes.

ARCHIBALD B. HORNE. 

